Ronnie James Dio Dies

Ronnie James Dio, legendary frontman of Dio, Black Sabbath, and Rainbow, passed away peacefully, according to his wife, today at 7:45 a.m. He was 67. The legendary metal vocalist, born Ronald James Padavona, was diagnosed with stomach cancer in November, forcing him to cancel shows with Heaven & Hell—the name of the Sabbath lineup he'd been fronting since 2006.

In a statement, Wendy said, "Ronnie knew how much he was loved by all. We so appreciate the love and support that you have all given us. Please give us a few days of privacy to deal with this terrible loss. Please know he loved you all and his music will live on forever."

Few artists have impacted heavy metal as much as Dio. He invented the "horns," revitalized Black Sabbath, and enjoyed a solo career that produced hits like "Holy Diver," "Rainbow in the Dark," and "The Last in Line." In April, Revolver honored him at our Golden Gods Awards show with the Liquid Metal Best Vocalist award, which Dio's voted on, for his work on Heaven & Hell's The Devil You Know. Below is a video of him backstage with Slipknot's Corey Taylor, who was nominated for the same award.

Everyone at Revolver would like to extend our condolences to Dio's family. It was an honor for him to attend our event.